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Reddit Reviews
I just bought a Marmot Trestles Elite Eco Quilt. I probably wont camp later than November here in the midwest though. sleep pad with good r rating can help too
I'd been using a Marmot for 30 yrs, what they called a 10-20 30. Don't remember the price but it was the most expensive thing I bought for a very long time and glad I did. There were not as many choices back then and I don't think they are the same now. Point is it was annoying when it was warm. Couple of years ago I got a Feathered Friends Flicker 40. It's a hoodless sleeping bag that can also open all the way to a quilt. (no it doesn't attach to a pad) Had that down to mid 30's cowboy camping in the desert and was fine with a puffy on. I had wanted a 30 but out of stock. This year sold the 40 and got a 30 for a trip to Iceland in July. I'm very happy with it; works well across temps. Combined with the Marmot gets me down to 0. Since it is a bag when I want it's less fuss than a lot of the quilts out there. (love the draft collar and the foot closing completely). You can rent one and they will credit up to 2 nights rental cost toward a similar purchase. May help but likely incur some extra shipping costs unless you're in their area.
For casual three-season camping around 0°C, synthetic’s way easier on the wallet. Marmot Trestles or Kelty Cosmic Down alternative bags hold up fine, and you don’t freak out about melting water or sweat ruining insulation.
Used Marmot Treasles Elite Eco. You can find these used on eBay and REI ReSupply for around $50 or less often.
Naturehike Mongar 2p. If you really can get a Marmot Limelight for under $150 definitely get that over the Naturehike (DAC aluminum poles and a lifetime warranty are primary reasons). For a bag I would look for a deal on a Marmot Tressles Elite Eco. I have seen the older models on clearance for under $100. These pack down much smaller and weigh far less than traditional synthetic bags. If you can afford a down bag go for. Paria Outdoor Products Thermodown 30 or 15f. Otherwise if you are with used try to find a quality down sleeping bag. Cots under $75 go with a Naturehike, iClimb or Kingcamp cot with aluminum poles and legs. Aluminum cots pack down way smaller and weigh significantly less than steel. For the sleeping pad I would recommend a knockoff of the Exped MegaMat. Semi inflating mats are way higher R value than the junk Intex and Coleman air mattresses and way more comfortable. A budget alternative to the MegaMat would be th Stoic Cloud or Cloud Lux or the Hikenture semi inflating mat. These are 3-5" thick and feel like sleeping on a bed at home. Combine them with a cot and it's pure luxury.
Marmot Trestles line are good deals on good bags. If you’re younger, just get a blue foam pad.
Western Mountaineering, Feathered Friends or Marmot for bags. Enlightened Equipment, Hammock Gear or Katabatic for backpacking quilts. Not cheap but quality and comfortable.
For a lot of backpacking brands, if you buy 2 bags; one with a left zipper and one with a right zipper ; you can simply zip them together (along with using them independently. I have Marmot bags that do this so my wife and I can carry our own gear but sleep together.
The Ice hotel in Montreal gives its tourists North Face and Marmot bags. They've seemed to hold up impressively to both repeated use and unprepared newbs. We weren't cold at all
Rankings by Use Case
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